Sporting Life
Liverpool team-mates Sadio Mane and Mo Salah meet in the final of AFCON 2021
Liverpool team-mates Sadio Mane and Mo Salah meet in the final of AFCON 2021

Africa Cup of Nations 2021 daily fixtures and tips

By Jake Osgathorpe
Football
Sun February 06, 2022 · 3y ago

The Africa Cup of Nations final takes place on Sunday, with Senegal taking on Egypt. It sees Sadio Mane face Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah, but who will come out on top? We preview the final and select a best bet.

  • Read Jake Osgathorpe's AFCON 2021 outright preview
  • Jake's AFCON daily tipping record: 24.5pts staked | 24.75pts returned = 0.25pts profit

Football betting tips: AFCON final - Senegal v Egypt

1.5pts Senegal to win in 90 minutes at 23/20 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair SportsbookBetfair Sportsbook

Senegal v Egypt

Pre-tournament favourites Senegal have made it the AFCON final, as they search for their country's first continental title.

It is hard to argue that they don't deserve to be in the showpiece event, being by far the best attacking team according to xG, even though eight of their nine goals have come in the knockout rounds.

Ultimately, they have found their groove from an attacking perspective post-group stage, but defensively they have remained extremely resolute.

They have conceded just two goals, allowing 0.50 xGA per game at the tournament, which should be a concern for an Egypt side who have consistently struggled to carve out good chances.

The Pharaohs have hit the net just four times at AFCON 2021, winning two ties on penalties after goalless 120 minutes, with their xGF per game average of 1.07 some way behind Senegal's 1.63.

Granted, Egypt have most certainly had the tougher run to this stage, having played Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Morocco and host nation Cameroon - four of the best teams on the continent.

Senegal are yet to face a team of that stature until this final, so Egypt do deserve more respect for making it this far.

However, it has to be factored in that they have also played 120 minutes in all three knockout games, meaning they have played an extra 90 minutes than their opponents over the tournament which could prove decisive given the heat and humidity they have had to play in.

Couple that with the fact that Egypt have been very fortunate to have conceded only two goals at the tournament (6.5 xGA - 1.08 per game), and SENEGAL TO WIN looks a solid selection here.

They have the better underlying numbers, the better indivduals and more rest time, so the odds-against quotes about them winning in 90 minutes should be taken.

Score prediction: Senegal 2-1 Egypt (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)

Odds correct at 1400 (04/02/22)

More from Sporting Life

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.